International Security MA Degree Requirements

Core Courses

GOVT 540 – International Relations (3 credits)
PUBP 505 – Politics and Practice of International Security Policy (3 credits)
PUBP 506 – Ethics and the Use of Force (3 credits)
GOVT 745 – International Security (3 credits)
BIOD 760 – National Security Technology and Policy (3 credits)
PUBP 504 – Grand Strategy (3 credits)

Methods/Analytics Course (Choose 1):

POGO 511 – Intro Data Analysis: Pol/Government (3 credits)

GCP 501 – Data Analysis for Global Political Economy

Electives Options For Students not Declaring a Concentration

  • Electives may come from any Schar School program (BIOD, GOVT, ICP/GCP, MPP, MPA).
  • Electives outside the Schar School must be approved prior to registration.
  • Independent study (POGO 796), Study Abroad or internship (POGO 794) may be used for elective credit.

Elective Options for Students Pursuing a Concentration (for students not selecting a focus)

  • 15 credits (five courses)

Pick one of the concentrations below - Select four courses of the 15 elective credits within the concentration

Intelligence
BIOD 610: Advanced Topics in Global Health Security
BIOD 705: Intelligence Theory and Practice
BIOD 722: Examining Terrorist Groups
BIOD 725: Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction
BIOD 751: Biosurveillance
PUAD 727: Seminar in Risk Assessment and Decision Making
PUBP 570: Policy Writing Fundamentals
PUBP 653: Interagency Operations in Conflict & Post Conflict Settings
PUBP 754: Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis for Public Policy
PUBP 777: Critical Infrastructure Protection
PUBP 710/POGO 550/POGO 750: Special Topics in Public Policy

Examples of approved courses:

  • Ethics, the Constitution, and National Security
  • Foreign Intelligence in a Free Society
  • Intelligence and Public Policy
  • Intelligence and the Constitution
  • Security and Intelligence Issues
  • Espionage in Popular Culture & Literature
  • National Security Policymaking: Theory v. Practice
  • Information & Intelligence in Support of Smart Power

Peace Operations
GOVT 734: Democratization
GOVT 742: International Negotiation
PUBP 650: International Conflict and Crisis Response
PUBP 651: Peace and Stabilization Operations
PUBP 652: Strategies for Peace and Stabilization Operations
PUBP 655: State- and Institution-Building
PUBP 751: International Police Operations
PUBP 710/POGO 550/POGO 750: Special Topics in Public Policy

Examples of approved courses:

  • Democratic Transitions and Democracy Promotion
  • Development and Peace Operations
  • Dictatorship, Democracy, and Human Rights
  • Civil-Military Relations
  • Immigration Policy and Politics
  • Intl. Migration, Global Governance & the Knowledge Economy
  • Negotiation and Peacemaking

Transnational Challenges
BIOD 610: Advanced Topics in Global Health Security
BIOD 706: Nuclear, Biological, and Chem. Weapons Policy
BIOD 709: Arms Control and Proliferation
BIOD 722: Examining Terrorist Groups
BIOD 725: Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction
BIOD 726: Agroterrorism and Food Security
GOVT 632: Politics/Societies of the Middle East
GOVT 641: Global Governance
GOVT 731: Advanced Seminar in Comp. Politics – topics vary

Examples of approved 731 courses:

  • Politics in Syria

GOVT 733: Islam and Politics
GOVT 741: Advanced Seminar in International Politics
GOVT 743: International Political Economy
PUBP 751: International Police Operations
PUAD 504: Managing in the International. Arena: Theory and Practice
PUBP 758: Global Threat/Medical Policies
PUBP 763: Illicit Trade
PUBP 764: Transnational Crime and Corruption
PUBP 765: Human Smuggling and Trafficking
PUBP 769: Political Violence and Terrorism
PUBP 710/POGO 550/POGO 750: Special Topics in Public Policy

Examples of approved courses:

  • Democratic Transitions and Democracy Promotion
  • The Geopolitics of Energy Security
  • Climate Change Policy and Governance
  • Middle East: Security Challenges and U.S. Response
  • Transnational Security Issues